The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-01-26

try her culinary skill upon that article
When she had made the first baking OF
bread and biscuit-equal, in fathers es--
timation, to mother's-she received
from him two gold dollars promised her
for pair of cuff-buttons.
After the new sewing-machine was
bought, and Esther had learned to use
it, she received present of her first
new silk dress. She had graduated
from the public high school with fair
record, and had made her father half
dozen fine shirts which her mother had
pronounced well and worthy of the
prize her father had offered. You may
be sure no city belle ever enjoyed her
splendid wardrobe as did Esther her
new suit when, with the aid of a dress
maker, her mother and self completed
the really handsome costume. II was
of soft olive brown, prettily draped,
with a hat trimmed in match ribbon
for the shade of her dress, cluster of
delicately-tinted apple-bossoms fast
ened on one side of it.
"Why, you are equal to Queen Es-
Their of DID," said her father, as she
stood before him arrayed in her new
suit. " / declare, you are quite too fine
to belong to an old grizzly beard like
me-" and he smoothed down this APP
pendage to his face complacently.
Esther made him low courtesy at
this and went towards the parlor, where
Alfred Hine was waiting to escort her
to the concert that evening. Before
opening the door, however, papa fired
parting shot at her.
"Don't be vain, my daughter, for you
never can be as handsome as your
mother was at your age"
She turned with bright smile, threw
a kiss at the family group, and was
soon tripping down the pavement with
one of the happiest men in the world.
And they were married, Alfred and
Esther, and set up their modest little
home in one of the new sections of the
city, Alfred having saved enough to
make the first payment on a piece of
property quite sure to rise in the
market, as building was increasing on
the new streets of that vicinity.
Annie Bartlett, who really had no
foundation for her high notions, told
Aunt Sally she would never marry a
common grocer's clerk if she lived and
died an old maid"
eff you ever have as good a husband
as | think Alfred Hine will make" re-
piled this sensitive old lady, " shall
be thankfully glad, for your sake. |
with interest since he came into the
store, for he appears to be one of the
few who start in business with correct
principles and habits, and who are
most likely to succeed in prosperous
career"
Time passed Annie had been the
petted child of Independent parents
who, dying, left her penniless-to be
thrown on to the care of relatives for
her support. Aunt Sally was widow
with slender means, which, with econ
omy, gave her comfortable living
The advent of Annie in her limited
housekeeping was an additional bur.
den, as that young lady detested the
close management necessary to keer
the house without becoming involved
in debt Here again early training
had its influence; for while Annie was
old enough and well enough to earn
her own support, and to be comfort
and help, instead of a burden on this
kind relative, she was opposed to max.
ing any effort in this direction, pre-.
ferring dependent life of compare.
tive idleness, filled with dissatisfaction
at her present surroundings, and witt
unhealthful longings after wealth ant
, fashion. She possessed share of per
sonal attractions, had thin lacquer
of snowy accomplishments, with GER
tain languid grace of manner thai
made her agreeable for short ac
quaintance.
AT last she married the son of a stock
broker-a man of weak brain, eXpen
sive habits and unsound principles
For time they boarded at fashion
able hotel, living fast and frivolous
life on the fathers money-the young
man nominally clerk in the office, bu
in reality an idler. There came crasl
: one day, and the fortune of " Altman
& Company" built up of papers anC
stocks, tumbled down about their ears
like house of card-boards. Every
, thing went in the general wreck, anC
to-day the contrast between the situa
, ton of Esther and Annie is more start
ling than pleasant-to one of the two
at least.
Esther is the mistress of a pleasan
home, which is now paid for. He
husband is the junior partner in thu
grocery house where he has been S,
I long, and is one of the respectable
business men of the town. His wife i
the happy mother of two fine boys, an,
: "about as nice housekeeper as he
I mother 80 her father declared at
4 Thanksgiving gathering, recently, a
I her home.
Annie and her husband keep up
. pretense of shabby gentility at second
! class boarding-houses-the husban